A pulmonary embolism is the sudden blockage of an important and big blood vessel in the lung. This is caused by a blood clot that has usually traveled from other parts of the body, very often from the legs.
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a part of blood clot breaks off into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs. In most cases, the clots are small and not deadly but they are able to damage parts of the lung. In contrast, however, a large clot can be deadly as it is able to stop blood flow to the lung. Treatment is needed immediately to reduce the risk of additional problems or to save the life of the affected person.
Pulmonary embolism is caused by a blocked artery (major blood vessel) in the lungs. Such blockage is caused mostly by a blood clot that forms in a deep vein located in the leg and travels to the lungs where it becomes lodged in a smaller lung artery. Clots can also form in the deep veins of the pelvis or arms. Pulmonary embolisms can be fatal depending on the size of the clogged blood vessel in the lung. In rare cases, other substances can cause pulmonary embolism such as tumors caused by fast growing cancer cells, substances or air bubbles that penetrate from medical procedures, surgery, or trauma into the bloodstream. It can also be caused by fat that can be released into the bloodstream after severe burns, trauma, surgery, or some types of bone fractures, and minor masses of infectious material. Pulmonary embolism is characterized by shortness of breath that may occur suddenly, sharp and sudden chest pain that may become worse with coughing or deep breathing. Other symptoms include rapid breathing, fast heart rate, fainting, sweating, anxiety, heart palpitations, and coughing up foamy, pink mucus, or blood. It can be difficult to diagnose pulmonary embolism because its symptoms may be similar to or may coincide with other conditions such as a pneumonia, panic attack, heart attack, and asthma. In addition it makes it even more difficult to diagnose as some patients with pulmonary embolism do not show any symptoms.
Treatment of pulmonary embolism can include blood thinners to prevent existing blood clots from growing bigger and help prevent new ones from developing. If the patient has life-threatening and severe symptoms, treatment should be sometimes in a rather offensive and immediate manner to dissolve quickly blood clots or to remove them through surgery.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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